Fresh incursion in S Korean waters by N Korean ship

A North Korean patrol ship on Monday entered South Korean waters leading to increased tension, an official here said.

The North Korean boat crossed the western maritime boundary between the two Koreas in the Yellow Sea, known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL) at 6.55 a.m., a South Korean defence ministry spokesperson told EFE news.

The vessel remained in South Korean waters for 20 minutes and returned to North Korea after warning shots were fired from a South Korean military ship, he added.

South Korea's navy has been put on high alert and has stepped up surveillance near the NLL, the spokesperson said.

Incursions by North Korean boats to the south of the NLL are common as the North Korean regime does not recognise the NLL, drawn up after the 1950-53 Korean War.